This course provides students with an introduction to diverse and interconnected feminist movements across the world. Students will examine how feminism manifests itself in various cultural, social, and political contexts globally and, through an intersectional lens, they will explore the historical development, key ideologies, and contemporary issues of global feminisms. By addressing issues such as the colonialism and globalization of feminist discourse, anti-colonial and decolonial feminisms, and transnational feminist activism, the course will consider critiques of feminist frameworks that erase differences within and between national contexts as well as critiques of Western/white feminist discourses from the perspective of women of color feminisms. Students will investigate topics such as sexual health and reproductive rights, gender-based violence, the commodification of women’s bodies, and feminist perspectives on development, environmental justice, and sustainability within the global context. Through critical engagement with theoretical frameworks, case studies, and activist movements, students will gain an understanding of the complexities and intersections of gender, race, indigeneity, class, sexuality, and nationality within global feminist praxis.

This course provides students with an introduction to diverse and interconnected feminist movements across the world. Students will examine how feminism manifests itself in various cultural, social, and political contexts globally and, through an intersectional lens, they will explore the historical development, key ideologies, and contemporary issues of global feminisms. By addressing issues such as the colonialism and globalization of feminist discourse, anti-colonial and decolonial feminisms, and transnational feminist activism, the course will consider critiques of feminist frameworks that erase differences within and between national contexts as well as critiques of Western/white feminist discourses from the perspective of women of color feminisms. Students will investigate topics such as sexual health and reproductive rights, gender-based violence, the commodification of women’s bodies, and feminist perspectives on development, environmental justice, and sustainability within the global context. Through critical engagement with theoretical frameworks, case studies, and activist movements, students will gain an understanding of the complexities and intersections of gender, race, indigeneity, class, sexuality, and nationality within global feminist praxis.

This variable topic course examines one or more themes, figures, movements, critical questions or issues in the areas of women's and gender studies. The topic for the course is chosen by the instructor, announced in the course subtitle, and developed in the syllabus. Topics in WGST can be taken multiple times provided the topic(s) being studied has changed.